Venting device for gasoline tanks



May 7, 1935. R. 1.. AUMACK VENTING DEVICE FOR GASOLINE TANKS Filed May 7, 1934 lllllullllll'lllllll lNVEN'KR ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1935 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vss'rme nnvrcijz frissoma 'ramrs I Raymond L. Aumack, Cranford, ,N. J.

Application May 7, 1934, Serial No. 724,371

6 Claims. (01. 217-45) This invention relates to venting devices, and it to be screwed into a tank I which contains a more particularly to venting devices for use in volatile and explosive liquid such as gasoline. connection with tanks and storage receptacles The upper portion of the member is externally for. volatile and explosive liquids. threaded and is provided with a plurality of 5 In the storing and transportation of gasoline spaced recesses 21 for a purpose hereinafter de- 5 and similar volatile liquids, it is essential that scribed. means be provided to prevent excessive pres- The upper edge of the inner wall of the member sures in the tanks occasioned by agitation of the 5 is bevelled at48 to provide a seat for a valve 9 liquid or by heat. It is also necessary to provide which has a downwardly extending portion ill means to admit airto the tanks during the drainprovided with a plurality of spaced ribs H for 10 ing of the tank. Heretofore, venting devices the purpose of guiding and properly positioning. have been provided for continuously venting the valve on its seat. The downwardly extendtanks to give relief from excessive gaseous presing portion l0 and the valve 9 have an aperture sures; but such valves are objectionable in that therethrough and the loweredge of the inner they allow continual evaporation oi the volatile wall of the portion III is bevelled at I! to provide is liquid even when the gaseous pressure is not exa seat for a valve it which is attached to a stem cessive. Such continual evaporation is wasteful, ll x in pw r y thr u h the aperture in and in large tanks the loss resulting therefrom member ID and valve 9. The stem I4 is encircled is appreciable. by a coiled compression springili which bears It is an object of this invention to provide a against 8 n l6 threaded t0 the upper 20 venting device for gasoline tanks which allows no the stem It, the sp 8-180 bearinl against leakage or waste of the volatile liquid by evaps m- 8 w f a guide f me It oration except when the gaseous pressure exceeds in r l wi h the v lv h V v m D a predetermined-amount. ing freely through the disc i1.

A further object is the provision of a venting R i po the V v 9 n encircling he 25 device for tanks for volatile and explomve liquids guide frame I8 is a coiled compression spring l9 which automatically allows the vapor to escape which 8 8 D 20, the latter being Sc ewed when the gaseous pressure exceeds a predeteronto a casing 2|, which in turn threadedly en- 'mined amount; and also automatically allows air sa at its lower end the member j to-enter the tank at atmospheric pressure when The cap 20 is provided with a passage 22 in 30 the tank is being drained. t which the coil spring I8 is positioned, said pas- A further object is the provision of a venting sage being closed by a disc of wire gauze 23 I device for gasoline tanks equipped with a fusible and the latter is covered by a plug 24 of fusible disc to prevent explosions in the case-of fire, said metal. I

valve also being provided with a flre screen or In operation, the tension of the spring I! is 35 wire gauze to prevent flame from entering the adjusted by screwing the cas s 2| 0n the tank in the event that the heat is sufiicient to her 5. When the gaseous pressure in the tank 6 melt the fusible disc. exceeds a predetermined amount the valve 9 will These and other advantageous objects, which be moved upwardly against the action of the 0 will later appear, are accomplished by the simple spring I9 to allow the evaporated liquid to escape a d ac ica o c on d amusement of upwardly through the spaces between the ribs Ii, Dfl hereinafter described find exhibited in the thence between the valve 8 and seat 8 and thence accompanying r mung when, and downwardly and outwardly through the re.- which: cesses 21.

1 is an elevation View 9 my m When it is desired to drain gasoline orsimilar I l u fluid from the tank it is essential that some a s 2 is a sectional View m9 de or the means be provided for admitting air at atmospheric pressure to the tank, and for this purpose 0 of l'fg. 2i :nii a View the me I have provided the valve l8, which automati- V 4 1 a ti l View taken on the m H cally opens against the action of spring I! when m liquid is being drained from thetank. when the Referring to the drawing, the venting device ve t is m ved w w dl r sse upis shown to include a tubular member I having wardly through the recesses 21 into the casing 5s a reduced portion 6 externally threaded to enable II at atmospheric pressure and downwardly into 55 the tank through the aperture in the downwardly extending portion iii of the valve 9.

' I In theevent of afire, the hazard incident to such vapors will burn above the wire gauze, but.

the flame will not enter the casing 2 I.

It will be noted that gasoline vapors are allowed to escape only when the gaseous pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined amount, that is, when the valve 9 is raised oil its seat 8 against the action of the spring l9. At all other times there will be no leakage or waste of the volatile liquid by evaporation, as the valve 9 is maintained tightly seated by the spring l9. The casing 2i is provided at its lower end with a set screw 2 id adapted to engage the member 5 to fix the casing thereon. The set screw am is preferably countersunk in the casing 2|, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that it may be sealed, as shown in Fig. 2, to prevent tampering therewith. In order to further adjust the casing 2| on the member 5 it will be necessary-to first break the seal, and then loosen the set screw.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and effective venting device for gasoline tanks which allows vapors to escape only when the gaseous pressures exceed a predetermined amount, thereby preventing waste and also preventing the exhaust of disagreeable and hazardous fumes continually as heretofore has been the case with venting devices of this type. It will also be noted that my device has few parts and is capable of reliable automatic action for relieving gaseous pressures in the tank, or for the purpose of allowing air to enter the tank at atmospheric pressure when the tank is being drained.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or liin'itative of the invention of which obviously embodiments may be constructed including many modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patents, is: a

1. In a venting device for gasoline tanks, a tubular member having a reduced portion external- ,ly threaded to enable itto be screwed into a tank, the upper edge of the inner wall of said member being bevelled to provide a valve seat, a first valve resting on said seat and having a downwardly extending portion provided with a plurality of spaced ribs, resilient means for maintaining said first valve on its seat, said ribs slidably engaging the inner wall or said member, the lower edge of said downwardly extending portion being bevelled to provide a-valve seat, a second valve engaging said last mentioned valve seat, a valve stem connected to said second valve and extending upwardly through the downwardly extending portion, resilient means for maintaining said second valve on its seat, and a casing threadedly enga g the external wall of said member, said casing enclosing the resilient means of said valves, and the external wall of said member having a plurality of vertical recesses communieating with the interior of the casing.

2. In a venting device for gasoline tanks and the like, a tubular member having the upper edge of the inner wall thereof bevelled to provide a valve seat, a first valve engaging said seat, means for attaching said member to a gasoline tank, a casing threadedly engaging the exterior of said member, a cap threadedly connected to the upper end of said casing, a compression spring bearing against said first valve and said cap to prevent opening of said valve until a predetermined force has been exerted thereon, said first valve having a downwardly extending portion provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal ribs and having a bevelled edge to provide a second valve seat, a second valve engaging the second valve seat, and having a valve stem extending upwardly into the casing, resilient means to maintain the second valve on its seat but to allow said second valve to open by atmospheric pressure when the tank is being drained, said tubular member having a plurality of recesses on its outer surface communieating with the interior of the casing, said cap having a passage therein, a fire screen positioned in said passage, and a disc of fusible metal closing said passage.

3. In a venting device for gasoline tanks and the like, a tubular member having a plurality of external recesses and provided with means to enable it to be attached to a gasoline tank, a casing threaded to said tubular member, and communicating with said recesses, valve means normally closing said tubular member to prevent the escape of the evaporated gasoline until a predetermined pressure thereof has been reached, and a second valve means associated with the tubular member to allow air to enter the tank when it is being drained, both of said valves opening into said casing, said casing having a passage therein covered by a wire gauze serving as a fire screen, and a disc of fusible metal closing said passage.

4. In a venting device for gasoline tanks and the like, a tubular member having a plurality of external recesses and provided with means to enable it to be attached to a gasoline tank, a casing threaded to said tubular member, and communicating with said recesses, valve means normally closing said tubular member to prevent the escape or the evaporated gasoline until a predetermined pressure thereof has been reached, and a second valve means associated with the tubular member to allow air to enter the tank when it is being drained, both of said valves opening into said casing, said casing having a passage therein, and a disc of fusible metal closing the passage.

5. In a venting device for gasoline tanks and the like, a tubular member'having a plurality of external recesses and provided with means to enable it to be attached to a gasoline tank, 9. casing threaded to said tubular member, and communicating with said recesses, valve means normally closing said tubular member to prevent the escape of the evaporated gasoline until a predetermined pressure thereof has been reached, and a second valve means associated with the tubular member to allow air to enter the tank when it is being drained, both of said valves opening into said casing, said casing having a passage therein covered by a wire gauze serving as a fire screen.

6. In a venting device for gasoline tanks, a tubular member having a reduced portion exterrnally threaded to enable it to be screwed into a tank, the upper edge of the inner wall of said member being bevelled to provide a valve seat, a first valve resting on said seat and having a mounted on and extending above the first-valve,

downwardly extending portion provided with a plurality of spaced ribs, resilient means for maintaining said first valve on its seat, said ribs slidably engaging the inner wall of said member, the lower end of said downwardly extending portion being bevelled to provide a valve seat. a second valve engaging said last mentioned valve seat, a valve stem connected to said second valve and extending upwardly through the downwardly ex- 10 tending portion, guide means for said valve stem resilient means associated with said guide means for maintaining said second valve on its seat, and a casing threadedly engaging the external wall of said member, said casing enclosing theresilient means 01' said valve, and the external wall of said member having a plurality 01 vertical recesses communicating with the interior of the casing.

, RAYM ND L. AUMACK. 

